title: Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in cervical smears from pregnant population.
abstract: Specimens were obtained for chlamydial cultures and for routine cytologic studies from 281 consecutive pregnant women who presented for their first prenatal visit. Forty patients (14%) had positive cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis. The cervical smears from all patients with positive cultures and from an equal number of age-matched patients with negative cultures were screened for cytologic features reported to be associated with Chlamydia infection. The following features were noted to be more common in the patients with positive cultures: squamous metaplasia, cytoplasmic vacuolation, nuclear abnormalities, human papillomavirus-associated changes, and a greater degree of inflammation. Cytoplasmic inclusions were present in only a single cell in each of 4 (10%) of the patients with positive cultures. None of the cytologic findings was considered to be specific enough to allow a diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In our experience, the evaluation of cervical smears is of limited value in the detection of Chlamydia infection in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa 19107.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ehya
mesh_terms: D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology*; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears